Chapter 71: I Will Not Monopolize This Glory |
Langya was less than three li from the Chishui River.
Because this city was extremely important—destined to become the strategic chokepoint second only to Yongcheng, the capital of Liang Prefecture, once Wuwei inevitably fell—it was exceptionally well-connected by both water and land routes.
The three-li stretch of road from the city gate to the riverside encampment had been built as a broad thoroughfare, paved with stone slabs. As cart wheels rolled over them, they produced a thunderous rumbling like galloping wind and lightning.
This massive city was like a giant beast opening its maw. But rather than swallowing, it was disgorging cart after cart of military supplies in an endless stream.
Not a single one of the four thousand soldiers was slacking off.
Even so, a full shichen passed without completing the transport.
At this rate, they would finish emptying Langya only when dawn was breaking.
"Your Highness."
As Wei Wusheng supervised the transport at the riverside encampment, several mid-ranking officers approached together and collectively dropped to one knee, clasping their fists in salute.
One of them stood and said, "Your Highness, we have never heard any advance notice of this operation."
"This comes from a secret imperial order, to be executed personally by this prince. What do you wish to ask?" Wei Wusheng countered coldly.
"Then General Luo Ting should know about it?" the man asked.
"Naturally. This operation is being executed by the general and myself."
"Then where is the general?"
"Are you questioning this prince?" A trace of anger crept into Wei Wusheng's voice.
"This subordinate would not dare, but the general has supervised the garrison at Langya for several years. Even with secret military orders, even if he doesn't tell us the contents, he would hold a meeting beforehand to assign specific execution orders."
Looking at Wei Wusheng, the man said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "But this time, there was no notice whatsoever. If we're to transport supplies, we should have prepared in advance—brought the encampment boats to shore, mobilized civilian laborers from the city, opened wide all the warehouse gates."
His companions all agreed with these words.
So they collectively interrogated Wei Wusheng with their eyes.
Why such haste?
Why doesn't this follow proper procedure?
Where is General Luo Ting?
"General Luo has already gone to Shuofeng," Wei Wusheng suddenly said.
Hearing this, everyone was shocked.
They exchanged glances, utterly confused.
"Originally, we intended to mobilize in advance so it wouldn't be this rushed. But an eight hundred li emergency dispatch arrived from the front lines."
Without wavering in the slightest, Wei Wusheng announced to those whose tension he had just raised, "Wuwei has fallen."
"How can this be?!"
One man exclaimed in shock.
The others showed panic as well.
Originally, they had believed they could hold out for at least two more months.
So the arrangements here had been relatively unhurried.
"With Wuwei fallen, Ji Yuan might strike directly at Shuofeng. If our defenses are inadequate, the entire Northern Liang will be lost just like that. What do you think will happen to the morale of Liang Prefecture's people and soldiers? I shouldn't need to explain that, should I?" Wei Wusheng said.
The others nodded, fully understanding the severity of this matter.
General Xiao Qun's reinforcements were still on the road—they wouldn't arrive for at least half a month.
If the front collapsed too quickly, no one could save the situation.
"This is an absolute military secret. Do not let it leak."
Everyone responded in unison, "Yes!"
"Then go quickly and help transport the supplies."
Having received this explanation from Wei Wusheng, these questioning mid-ranking officers could only return to their positions.
However, the one who had led the questioning grabbed one of his colleagues as they were leaving.
"Do you believe what His Highness said is possible?" he asked.
"It's suspicious, but if it's really true, we must follow orders."
"It absolutely isn't!" Pointing forcefully at the ground with his index finger, he said with complete certainty, "This is a military rebellion, without any doubt. If we really wait until tomorrow, we'll all be taken hostage to Shuofeng."
"But he has the tiger tally, and he is the Sixth Prince himself. If we disobey now, we'll be killed immediately."
"So we need to find an opportunity and wait for the right moment to act."
The officer who completely distrusted Wei Wusheng showed eyes filled with extreme resistance.
Wei Wusheng was clearly aware that lies couldn't be kept forever.
Once they boarded the ships, some mutinies would likely occur.
But there was no helping it—he was just one person with one tally. There was absolutely no way to completely control these four thousand men.
So he was waiting for Song Shi'an.
If that side wasn't resolved, then before long, he would be escorted back to Sheng'an and executed for treason.
Wei Wusheng's gaze followed the Chishui River downstream as he said heavily, "You must come."
---
Song Shi'an wasn't painting empty promises for these soldiers.
Empty promises would be utterly useless at a time like this.
He truly needed these people to serve him.
Never mind the ten thousand-plus at Shuofeng—he couldn't even control these four thousand here. The ships might not even make it before they stopped, with his subordinates forcing his hand.
So he needed this thousand absolute personal troops to become all the basic officers of the "Wei Family Army."
Mix the main force together, intersperse them.
Then let his own people control the army, control everyone.
The several ranks each person was being promoted were real, obtainable as soon as they raised the banner.
For common soldiers to become squad leaders wasn't easy, but there was opportunity.
For squad leaders to become centurions required risking their lives to achieve significant merit.
As for centurions becoming captains—without some family background, it was basically impossible unless you led the charge multiple times.
So the answer was obvious.
This thousand Forbidden Army troops no longer had a single person whimpering or wavering.
"We were going to die anyway, now there might actually be a chance to live..."
"And direct promotion—I'm going from squad leader to centurion?"
"If we hold out in this battle, normally we could all be promoted another rank—that would be military司马... proper eighth rank!"
During the Warring States period, why was the Qin army so strong?
Because they learned and perfected the military merit system first created by Wei.
It gave the lower classes a path upward.
This system continued to benefit people even into the Three Kingdoms period, like Yue Jin, who rose from humble peasant origins to become one of the Five Elite Generals and enter Cao Cao's temple, purely through always being first to charge in battle.
Now, these thousand men were fired up.
Seeing this, Song Shi'an directly shouted, "Will you do it?!"
*"YES!!"*
In unison, spear butts struck the ground, voices roaring like mountains and seas.
"Then follow me and rendezvous with His Highness!"
Song Shi'an descended from the watchtower, mounted his horse with Xinyue, and rapidly assembled the troops.
"Song Shi'an!" Seeing him come down, Qin Kuo wanted to rush over.
Then Zhu Qing grabbed him and held him back, reminding him, "Look, does anyone still listen to us?"
At this moment, all the soldiers had completely become His High... no, Song Shi'an's private property.
Completely under his control.
Both body and heart.
Though Qin Kuo was in the military, he was a civil official. So he couldn't stand by and watch this kind of coup happen: "You're a captain of this army—don't your words carry any weight at all?"
"This army now has ten captains."
"..."
"If I'm willing to be promoted to general, then I must obey. If I'm unwilling to be promoted, my current position can't mobilize anyone." Zhu Qing knew the moment Song Shi'an gave out those promotions that he had been sidelined.
"Outrageous!"
Not everyone's nine generations of kin were disposable or cheap. Qin Kuo also had his own clan—though not a great family, they belonged to the minor bureaucratic class.
If I condone this, what about my nine generations?
Only at this moment did he suddenly realize that the secret order he'd received that day seemed to have some pattern to it.
Hastily, he ran back to his own tent.
"Qin Kuo, where are you going?!"
Zhu Qing watched his retreating figure, completely confused.
At this moment, all the troops and horses had completely assembled and could depart immediately.
Before leaving, the army's provisions officer ran to Song Shi'an: "Your honor, organizing the tents and provisions will require half a shichen..."
"Why are you still worrying about these scraps? Move out!"
The entire city of Langya was being emptied—and you're here fussing over packing your valuables?
So the three hundred cavalry took the lead, with the remaining light infantry and auxiliaries following, preparing to enter the main road and march rapidly to reach the riverside encampment.
But suddenly, Qin Kuo ran to the front of everyone, pulled out a bright yellow silk imperial edict, and shouted loudly, "Imperial edict! In special circumstances, Chief Clerk Qin Kuo has full authority to take command of the army!"
Following the normal progression of official advancement, Qin Kuo would never in his lifetime have a chance to meet the Emperor.
As for the Emperor's Jinyiwei—he might see them, but only when they came to arrest his superior.
Someone of his rank didn't have that privilege.
But before the expedition, he was extremely shocked when the Jinyiwei found him.
And gave him such an edict that superseded all ranks, without any explanation.
He didn't understand why, but he didn't need to understand.
Now he was going to use it!
"Song Shi'an, dismount this instant!"
Glaring at this bastard, Qin Kuo shouted loudly.
Everyone fell silent.
Song Shi'an looked at him with an expression like still water, then casually glanced at Xinyue beside him.
Clang!
The ringing vibration of Xinyue's sword being drawn from its sheath made Qin Kuo's heart tighten and his face twitch.
The next moment, the three hundred cavalry before him drew their sabers in unison.
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